Salford bring in Championship player on loan amid injury crisis

Salford have signed Scotland international Ben Hellewell from Championship side Featherstone on a two-week loan deal due to the club’s injury crisis.

The Scotland international joined Rovers from rivals Leigh ahead of this season.

Back-rower Hellewell joins the Red Devils to provide depth. Coach Paul Rowley only has 17 or 18 available players to choose from ahead of Sunday’s game against Catalans Dragons.

Morgan Escare, Jack Wells, James Greenwood, King Vuniyayawa, Shane Wright, Dan Sarginson and Harvey Livett won’t play again for the Red Devils this season.

Tonga international Sitaleki Akauola is currently serving a ban, whilst Joe Burgess, Tyler Dupree and Matty Costello are currently sidelined with injuries.

Hellewell has won 20 caps for Scotland. He will be hoping to play in his third World Cup later this year.

The 30-year-old will be available for Salford’s upcoming games against Catalans and Toulouse.

Harvey Livett likely to have played last game for Salford

Out of contract forward Livett is likely to have played his last game for Salford after being ruled out for the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in their 30-18 defeat to Huddersfield at Magic Weekend.

And with Livett being off-contract at the end of the season as well as being linked with a move to Huddersfield, he could have played his final game for the Red Devils.

Salford assistant coach Danny Orr said he would be surprised to see Livett play again in 2022.

Orr said: “We picked up a few injuries at Magic. Tyler Dupree, who has been really good for us since he has come in, will be out for three to four weeks.

“We have potentially lost Harvey Livett for the season so we’ve lost some big players there. We just need to crack on, but we are down to the bare bones at the moment.

“Harvey is a really skilful player. You get a few games under his belt and get his match fitness, then you start to see parts of his game come out. You see him do things that other back-rowers can’t do.

“He set up a couple of tries the other week with his kicking game. He’s a very skilful player and we are going to miss him.

“Hopefully he could have a good couple of weeks and get himself back. But I don’t think we’ll see him again this year.”

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